Losing a chick a day on average... please HELP!

[Wynette]

I did not read all posts in full (I apologize if this has been addressed), but you should not have them on vitamins and electrolytes. Those should only be used when chickens have been compromised due to injury or illness. Electrolytes can cause issues if used when not needed.

If you have them on unmediated CHICK starter (you indicated "hen" starter, but I assume you meant chick, and not layer feed), you should consider adding something like "Chick 2 & 1" to their drinking water, which is an additive containing a coccidosant (sp?) and vitamins specifically for use with chicks being fed UNmedicated feed. THey sort of go hand in hand. You can get this at Twin Cities Poultry online.

Good luck!

 

[StillwaterCreek]

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Well, the lady at the feed store where I got my brooder equipment said it would be very good for them and would give them a jump-start. Any other opinions on this, folks?

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I have no idea why the forum is substituting the word "hen" for "c h i c k" all of a sudden... they're on c h i c k starter. (I had to space it out that way to keep it from substituting again!)

So... vitamins good, electrolytes bad?

And again, I'm hesitant to medicate unless I know specifically what I'm medicating for. I'm not anti-medicine (although we do try to address problems—human or animal—as naturally as possible), but I do believe medicines should be used in particular situations to address particular problems.

 

[Wynette]

I agree with you, 100%, on medication. I've found with c h i c k s, though, they are just SO prone to cocci, it's a good preventative to get them on something for it. I did tons of research into this when I first began, and learned that medicated starter really doens't do much in the way of preventing cocci; it's because it needs to be in a hydrated form. So, I began using the chick 2 in 1 in their drinking water - you use it the first 21 days. I use UNmedicated starter. I've had excellent results.

You just need to do your research, as you are, and make the decisions that seem to make the most sense at the time. Everyone has their comfort level, and for me, that comes from being as informed as possible.

 

[StillwaterCreek]

OK, I've changed them over to straight water now... We'll see what happens.

 

[StillwaterCreek]

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I here ya... that's why I've read everything I can get my hands on, and now I'm here! Again, I really appreciate you folks.

 

[Wynette]

BYC is an excellent source of info., that's for sure. I'm so glad that I found it! It's the very first place I turn when I have a question, need feedback, or when I'm just curious about something.

I'd also suggest, if you don't already have it, Gail Damerow's Poultry Health Handbook. It's been SO helpful!

 

[StillwaterCreek]

New but possibly related question: At what age should chickens have grit added to their diet? Again, the lady at the feed store told me not to worry about it until they were at least 4-6 weeks. Based on what I'm learning now, this seems wrong...

 

[Wynette]

You really need to take feed mill folks' advice with a grain of salt. At least, that's what I've learned.

Chicken feeds are formulated so that you need not add anything extra - they are complete feeds. But, we chicken folks just can't help ourselves...we love giving treats! There's no need to add grit to their diet unless you are feeding anything other that their complete feed. You can feed very soft things, like yogurt (which is very good for them) without the need for grit. But, most anything else requires grit to digest it.

I typically begin feeding C H I C K grit around 3 weeks, when I start giving them soft treats. It won't hurt them to have it, they just dont' really NEED it unless they get firmer treats.

 

[cyanne]

The electrolytes and vitamins that you add to the water is typically something you do just at the very beginning. It is good if the chicks have been stressed due to being shipped or whatnot. You don't want to keep it in there for long, though.

Personally, I have had chicks that I brought home from the feed store and ones that had been mailed and I've never used the electrolytes mix and had no issues, but I have heard of people using them with success when they had a batch of chicks that were extremely stressed from shipment.

The vitamin I mentioned, Poly-Visol is not something you give them all the time, either, just when they are sick or 'off.' If you have one that is just all droopy or 'not right' you can give them a drop of the Poly Visol 2 to 3 times a day for 3 days or so and it seems to really help. If they are normal there is no reason to give it.

To check for the crop, it is on the lower part of the right side of their neck/the top of the chest. Should feel like a sack that is full of softened food. The size varies depending on how much they eat, but healthy chicks typically have a pretty good-sized bulge there as they are usually little piggies!

The crop typically on an adult chicken is empty in the morning (or mostly empty) and full in the evening...on chicks, that depends since they may eat at varied times of day and night since they have a light shining on them all the time.

 

[Wynette]

If you do decide to use poly vi sol, make SURE to use the kind WITHOUT Iron in it.